Roasting rack



Feb- 9', 1950 R. K. JAMENTz RoAsTING RACK Filed Feb. 15, 195e INVENToR.

46E/vrs.

United States Patent ROASTING RACK Robert K. Jamentz, Los Angeles, Calif. Application February 13, 1956, Serial No. 565,213

1 Claim. (Cl. 99-426) This invention has to do with a roasting rack, or a grid type construction for use in connection with stove ovens, and is particularly concerned with a new and improved construction that is adapted to be handled without collapsing.

This invention is an improvement over U.S. Patent No. 2,144,278, entitled Roasting Grid and is provided to be removably mounted in a stove oven for roasting poultry, meats, and other roasted foods whereby the natural juices will be sealed therein, etc., in a most ladvantageous manner. Devices of the type under con- -sideration have been provided after the teaching of the In View of the foregoing, it is a general object of this invention to provide a roasting rack, or 'the like, which will not collapse or fold when it is being lifted or handled in a normal manner.

An object of this invention is to provide a rack of the character above referred to that has food supporting leaves and means locking said leaves in the'desired operating positions.

It is still another object to provide a roasting rack of the type under consideration that has food supporting leaves that can 'be selectively positioned and locked against accidental displacement to the end that it can withstand normal use and handling without collapsing or folding.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a quickly and easily adjustable means whereby lthe leaves of the roasting rack can be locked in the selected operating positions, all with a minimum of mechanism and so that the device is extremely inexpensive of manufacture while atthe same time, it is highly practical and effective for the purpose intended.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from thefollowing detailed description of a typical preferred form and application'of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a roasting rack embodying the features of the present invention, showing the leaves of the rack extended or raised to a position for supporting a roast. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed end view of the structure shown in Fig. l showing the leaves in a collapsed or downwardly folded position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure taken through the center portion of one of the leaves thereof, and Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detailed views of a portion of the structure illustrating the manner in which 2,924,168 Patented Feb. 9, 1960 the support for the leaves is engaged and locked in position by the means that I have provided.

The roasting rack forms a food support and is adapted for removable placement in an oven of a stove (not shown). The rack is collapsible, and when in operating condition, is characteristically V-shaped, the angle of V depending upon the size and shape of the food to be roasted. That is, the rack presents a V-shaped support that is proportioned and adjusted to meet the particular shape of the food involved.

In preparing food such as fowl, the skin is tightly tied around the neck, and the legs and wings are trussed in the usual manner, the opening of the fowl through 'which the dressing is introduced being sewed to completely close the same. During the roasting process, it will be apparent that the natural juices of the fowl will be directed downwardly towards the lower breast portions, maintaining the same at all times in a moist condition. Further, -as the juices are sealed within the roast, very little will escape therefrom, and for that reason very little or no basting is ordinarily required.

The rack of the present invention is collapsible so that the elements thereof will lie substantially flat and at the same time will be adjustable for the support of various shaped and proportioned foods. As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the roasting rack involves generally a base A, a pair of like food carryingV leaves B, a support C for each of the leaves, and releasable lock means D for adjustably positioning the supports C. The base A is the main supporting element of the structure, the leaves B being pivotally carried by the base A to be supported in angular relationship through the supports C. The lock means D is a releasable lock means and secures the supports in position to maintain the leaves in the desired operating position.

The base A is the main frame part of the device and is a flat horizontally disposed .member adapted to have supporting engagement with an oven tray, or like part. As shown, the base A is preferably rectangular in plan configuration, and it may be made or formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material. I have found that a simple rectangular base bent from an elongate strip X of at metal stock serves the purpose very nicely and provides the desired body of material to form the means involved in the structure as hereinafter de scribed. The strip X has flat inner and outer vertically disposed sides 10 and 11 and has upper and lower edges 12 and 13. The strip X is bent into a rectangular piece having corners 14 deiining end rails 15 and side rails 16. The corners 14 are 90 bends, and the ends 15 and sides 16 are straight parallel elements, the strip X being secured or butted at 17.

The pair of like food carrying leaves B are provided for the support of the food to be roasted and are substantially at elements that are normally horizontally disposed at the top of the base and are adapted to be tilted relative to each other in order to form a V. The

leaves B are pivoted to the end rails 15 of the base A centrally thereof and on axes intermediate and parallel with the side rails 16. The leaves B may be pivoted on a common axis but are preferably pivoted on individual axes located substantially adjacent each other and so that the leaves B extend outwardly and laterally away from said axes.

As shown, the leaves B are alike and each is a gridlike part composed of wires or rods Y or like elements presenting an open framework or network of elements characteristic of racks of the type under consideration. Each leaf B overlies approximately one-half of the base A to be substantially coextensive with the length of the base and preferably extending substantially beyond the 3 side of the base. parallel. end members 20, one at each end of the base A and a side member 21 spaced outwardly and laterally of In practice, the leaf B has spaced downwardly` and, away from the plane of the` leaf Bitl order to provide a handle portion clear of the roast for manipulating of: the device whenA a roast isd carried thereby. *In practice, suitable additional food, carrying `nods 25.` extend` paralleli withv the: member 21 and with the pivotal axisv ofthe leaf` B and are supported at their end portions bythe end members )allF of the leaf B.

Al support C ist` provided for each ofthe leavesl B for angularly relatingand holding the,leaves, B in upwardly inclined positions to form a V. AsA shown, each support C isa simple body made up of alengthcf wire orirod Z or ,like` clement to form a pair of spaced parallel legs 30 joined by a spacer 31. Theinner endof each leg30 is formed with an opening 32tov receive a trinaniohn,` 33 projecting fromll the leaf B. Theitrunnion 33 isjpreferf ably formed by the extensionof one ofk the ,rods `25', and the leg 30 depends and swings from the trunnion 33. The Outer ends of the legsllare ieined by the spacer 3.1 sethat they Operate tegethen and so. thatl they eanfbe sinntltanebnsly manipulated hereinafter described.. A feature-,attire support C is the, intermediate portieri 3 et they staaten 31.. wheh. isefiset from the, enter endsef tbe,.- leas. establishing diasenal portions 35 that avertie the side; rai.l.;1.6 fen stippbrtinsengasenient (see Fis-3.0

'lille releasableleek meansD adiustably and'releasably Pesitiens. tbeeuter endpbrtiens ef the legs 30 whereby the leaves B are maintained in the desired inclined posi; I

tion. ,Asn shown, a laterally and inwardly projecting foot` provided at the outer end of `each leg 30 and f arsupporting notch 4t) is provided in the upper edge 1 2 lof the strip X between the` sides, 10v and 11 thereof, 'lfhere'isl aplurality ofnotches 4,0 in a seriesl intermediate the pivotal axes of the leaves B and side rails 16 of the base in order to4 provide for the desired adjusted positionsr The notches openupwardly, and it will,

therefore, be apparent that lifting of the rack `by the handle formedby the members 2 1 would ordinarily lift the feet 36 out of the notches 40 allowing the rack as a whole to collapse or fold inwardly. Therefore,

and in accordance with the present invention, I` haveV provided the lock means D.

The` lock means D is a rele'iasable means and is providedto prevent accidental release of the feet 36 the notches 40. The means Dinvolves generally` the notches 40 and recesses 50 in the notches. The notch 40 en ters the upper edge 12 ofthe strip X and hasspaced side Walls, there being an inner side wall 41 and an outer side wall 42. The bottom of the notch 40 is closed by a wall43'joining the side walls. The recess 50 is in the notch 40 and enters one of the side walls thereof, preferably the inner side wall 41 adjacent the bottom wall 43. The recess extends inwardly toward the pivotal axis of the leaf B` providing a downwardly faced. abutment t 52 adapted `to engage with the top of the foot 36. The abutment 52 is preferably substantially parallel `with the edge 12 of thestrip X although it is of limited extent.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that l have provided a very practical roasting rack of simple, inexpensive construction, andwhichwill not,.under ordinary circumstances, collapse 'or fold. By providing the releasable lock meansy D. of ,the present invention, the feet 36 are retained in the` notches 40 and` recesses 50, there by preventinglifting of Ithe feet 36 when` the rack as a whole is handled` or lifted by means` of engagement with the side members 21,` or like handling. Since the side members 21 areoifset fromthe plane `of the leaves B,

they provide a convenient handle portion by which the rack can be `lifted and transported, allwithout collapsing or folding of the rack and `without displacing of the food carried` thereby- 'It will be apparent that it is a simple, matter t0` select the desired notches V4()` in order togain the r equi red v incline `of the leaf` B in` order to support `various fonds as circumstances 'require- Itis t0 be observed that the trunnions 33 will `be positioned in-` wardly oftheJ notches, and recesses that are usedY and` engaged by the feet 36, sethat when upward pressure is, apnliedte the leavesB, the feet 3.6 are drawn inwardly toward` recesses 5,0, wlt is in this manner'that the legs areleeked inrengasenient witbthe basese that the raak is.` netaeeidentally foldedE Haynss described enly a., typieali `preferred 'ferm and apnlieatiennf my inventien, I de not Wishl t0 be limited er restricted tethe specific; details herein set fertb, but v.etyete myselftany variations et modifications 1 that-nay alinear; te these slsillesi` theartand fall: within l tbe-scene btthetelhwins claimt. t

Having described. invention, I elailnt` A raak of tbe@ shataeten described including, a base, anais .hiftable snppbttins leaves nivetally earried by the. base. suspens. fer the leavesand each with a feet ellgageableiwith,` the base, and areleasable locktmcans securingV the foot to the base, said means `comprising 1 av laterally disposed and upwardly opening notch in the base and havingside walls, and an abutment projecting away from the `pivotal, connection` of the base and leaves i to overlie a` portion of `the notch and. retain` the foot when it is pulledinto the notch toward :the said pivotal connection by lifting ofthe rack by themleaves.

References Cited in the leof thispatent 

